• Home
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact

Old Year Out, New Year In

1/15/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Click here to Wow, was 2015 the fastest year in recorded history?

     I knew I was setting a lofty goal in daring to imagine I’d make regular updates on our farm doings, but I thought I’d at least manage more than a paltry 2 entries! I’ll likely maintain my pokey little pace, as I focus on the humble act of just getting things done. I’m still awed at how many people manage to homeschool, farm, craft, volunteer, recreate, keep their day jobs and simultaneously document such energetic fabulosity with plentiful pictures and verbal panache. I was certainly cut out for a slower moving era, but we must bloom where we’re planted, right? I can’t offer fabulosity, but I’ll at least try a little harder to share glimpses of life from the doublewide paradise we call Oakie Acres farm.

     While we didn’t do the kind of market vending we’d originally planned, 2015 was a very good year. A year of small beginnings, and long-awaited structural improvements!  My dear husband built a mini-barn for our livestock to shelter in, created a beautiful new front porch, and painted both house and main barn. The pleasure these kinds of acts offer a wife is immeasurable. I’m a lucky lady, indeed.  
    
     We also decided to experiment with heirloom vegetable seeds, something we look forward to continuing this year. I guess most of the supermarket veggies we frowned upon as children were cultivated to withstand the rigors of cross-country hauling and other veggie horrors. Basically, they were bred more for hardy constitutions than hardy flavors. I think the reason so many folks who disliked veggies in the past are loving them now is the opportunity to eat much better, higher quality, locally grown veggies. A tomato purchased locally doesn’t have to be a bland old tough guy. It can afford to have a sweeter,  more pleasant personality since it won’t be abused or neglected in major shipping operations. This is one area where society has definitely advanced, albeit in a back to basics way. Even if it doesn’t say organic, you can bet any small farmer has grown that veggie with tender loving care, using responsible methods. They can’t help it. I believe it's in their nature.

    
**On that note, you should see our steers! They’re the two silliest, most playful, personality-filled critters ever to grace a field. We’ve kept them on an extra year because as Jersey’s they’re slower to mature. They also happened to consume the lion's share of our fruit and veggies last year. When the jersey boys are sold this spring, it will be a very sad day for my husband. He’s had no end of rollicking, cowboy-ish fun with those two crazies in the field.**

     Heirloom varieties and loving care also go hand in hand. Heirloom veggies are downright beloved by folks who are extra into veggies.  Last year I was particularly drawn to oddly colored varieties, those that are purple in particular. It is my favorite color, after all. Well….maybe. It ties with pink for that honor, depending on the mood of a day. Either way, purple colored veggies are every bit as scrumptious as you’d expect them to be. Take a look at the beautifully vibrant Purple of Sicily cauliflower below.  For a good resource on heirloom veggies, look here: http://www.halcyon.com/tmend/define.htm. If all goes as planned, we hope you'll stop by on an upcoming farm stand day. We'll announce those days further along in the season. It really will happen folks! I can't thank you enough for your patience, and please keep checking back.<3

     Our family and friends also enjoyed the visual  and flavor spectacles of purple carrots, artichokes, broccoli, and asparagus, though I admit not all pack the color intensity Purple of Sicily displays. The asparagus and artichokes are more green with purplish tinges. It was super exciting nonetheless. This year we're adding " chedder" cauliflower which, as you may surmise, should be a cheesy golden color. We're also trying a Russian black tomato, the Paul Robeson variety. It’s an early producer and is reputed to be scrum-diddly-icious. My husband and I are tomato fanatics, so we’re very excited to try these. Ahem. And to share with others, of course.
               
     Whew! I've backfilled last years gap a little bit, and it does feel good in a better-late-than-never sort of way. Unfortunately, there remains a sad last note to add before signing off. Along with all the great things of 2015, two not-so-great things also occurred. First was the loss of our gorgeous, pot-bellied, cross-eyed-Siamese-snuggle-cat, Lucky, whose handsome face retains it's place on our home page. Second was the loss of genteel Carmelita, the sweetest-eyed, most demure, faithful and loving of Sheltie dogs. 

          
  RIP, Lucky and Carmelita. You were a couple of the greats!



Picture
0 Comments

Success!

4/15/2015

2 Comments

 
     What an interesting and highly fruitful growing season we're off too! Shortly after that lone initial post, hubby and I exploded into a period of insatiable seed starting. We were so busy doing, that to document said doings was nigh on impossible, despite my fond desire to share.
     Though my husband has grown veggies from seed in the past, this was a first experience for me. I was instantly hooked...each tray of seed starts was as thrilling as if it were a thousand acre farm, and probably far more satisfying! 
     I can't emphasize enough how exciting this process is, or how edifying. Farming and gardening at any level is deliciously instructive and insightful; a process that can't help changing us for good! Even a few potted herbs on the windowsill, or sprout-jar garden nestled in the kitchen hold miracles and comfort aplenty for those in need. Try it! ;)

      It is beyond inspirational to lovingly nourish plant life that is capable of lovingly nourishing you back!


Picture
2 Comments

Testing, 1...2...3

1/28/2015

0 Comments

 
                     Blogging has been all the rage for quite some time, and I’ve certainly benefited from the generous sharing of others in just about every area of life.

                      Most of the practical advice and helpful information I’ve come by these last few years was provided by citizen bloggers. I often find myself appreciating the detail, care, and apparent length of time so many folks have taken to assist others by sharing what they’ve learned. I don’t know where they found the time –particularly all those home-schooling moms!- but I am very thankful.

                    With our three oldest children now legal adults, it seems we finally have room to breathe a bit easier, stretch a bit further, and try our hands at something new. Or, if not something new exactly, we look forward to trying our hands at things we’ve been doing for a while with new attention and care.  If we figure something out we think might help others, farm-wise or domestic, we’ll try to share....though I’m still not sure how much time will permit that kind of sharing just yet!

                   The kind of sharing I do think time will permit is the taking of pictures illustrating our efforts, be they measly, successful or otherwise. We'll see!


0 Comments

    Always Remember:

    It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

    Galations 5:1


    Archives

    January 2016
    April 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly